Richard Smallwood, 77, the world-renowned gospel singer with deep roots in Washington, D.C., died early Tuesday in Sandy Spring, Maryland, due to complications with kidney failure, according to his publicist Bill Carpenter.
“The gift that Richard Smallwood brought was the polish of classical music and combined it with traditional Black church music to create a unique yet contemporary sound in the1980s,” Carpenter, who dedicated an entire chapter on Smallwood in his book “Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Encyclopedia” (2005), told The Washington Informer in February 2024.
Known for church staples such as “Total Praise” (1996) and “Center of My Joy (2016),” the Gospel Music Hall of Famer is being celebrated as a legend who shaped generations of communities through the rhythm of faith, leaving an indelible legacy of respect and honor…